The National Cooperative Observer - NOAA

After Petti returned home from the hospital,
his eye sight began to deteriorate. It soon
became evident that Petty could neither get to
the rain gage, nor read the temperature digital
display.
The Aus were now completely immersed
in the Coop program. Leilani or Erika would
take the morning readings. Using her cell phone,
Erika would relay the reports on her way to
school to her grandmother, Sharin. Sharin would
then enter the data into the Remote Observation
System Automation (ROSA) system.
The Aus volunteered for this work thinking
it would be temporary and that Petty would
eventually again take over the observations. Unfortunately,
Petti’s condition became worse, so
Petti and the Au family looked for someone to
take over.
Fortunately, Rick Wu of Wu’s Sundries in
Hau’ula stepped up to the situation. Wu owns and
operates his store, and arranged to have the equipment
moved to his store site. Since that time, Wu
has also learned how to become a coop observer.
Our work as hydrometeorogical techs presents
opportunities to meet extraordinary people. The Au
family’s outstanding commitment to their neighbor
has extended beyond their local community. Their
efforts have reached climatologists worldwide. �
Name on the Form:
Dohlen's Wild Winter
By Matt Moorman, HMT
NWS Glasgow, MT
Coop observers provide not only accurate and
up-to-date weather records, but also something
more: living history. When I visit observers and
listen to their tales of past weather history, I’m often
scrambling for the record books. Erling Dohlen,
an observer 12 miles southeast of Opheim in
northeast Montana, has a vast knowledge of the
weather in northeast Montana. His family has taken
observations since 1930.
During a recent visit, Erling recalled the brutal
winters of the late 40’s and 50s. He specifically remembered
livestock perishing and motorists
stranded for weeks from the cold and snow. Ranchers
used the same techniques we use today for sur-
Erling Dohlen, right receives his service award from
NWS Glasgow, MT staff.
vival. In his opinion, January 1950 was the worst he
could recall with the average temperature for the
month of 17 degrees below zero.
His story stirred our curiosity. When I got back
to the office, I searched the records. January 1950 is
the coldest month on record with an average monthly
temperature of -16.7 degrees. The county was declared
a winter disaster area during the winter of
1949-1950 and motorists were stranded for weeks.
Precipitation for the year was 19.03 inches with 49.9
inches of snow. How is that for memory?
Erling continued the conversation with memories
of being stranded for three weeks in 1951 during
a March storm that buried his car under 3 feet
of snow. Motorists were welcomed into Montana
homes, grocers and restaurant owners welcomed
stranded travelers to eat and sleep in their businesses
at no cost, and the motels were packed with travelers.
We didn’t search the records as diligently this time.
After all, we already had an expert tell us the story.
Admittedly, I would rather hear Erling tell the story
than search records. Without a personality, records
are colorless.
Now we have a personal, vivid picture of those
horrific winters. The stories are a testament to the
hospitality, sacrifice and citizenship of the Northern
Plains. Memories will fade but the records will remain.
A century from now researchers will try to
visualize how bad those winters really were. They
will not have the luxury of talking to Erling Dohlen.
I hope in their search they realize the record speaks
for itself, but the name on the form is Dohlen. �
In his
opinion,
January
1950 was
the worst
winter
weather
in his
lifetime,
with an
average
temperature
for the
month
of 17
degrees
below
zero.
Cooperative Observer 3